What do my blood test results mean?
A plain-English guide to high and low results — reviewed by British-trained GPs. Not a diagnosis; a starting point for a proper clinical review.
Common markers — what high or low usually means
Use this as a first orientation only. Your own laboratory's reference range and your GP's interpretation always take precedence.
HbA1c
High: 42–47 mmol/mol suggests prediabetes; ≥48 mmol/mol on two occasions is diagnostic of diabetes.
Low: Unusually low HbA1c may reflect anaemia, recent blood loss or a haemoglobinopathy.
Non-disease reasons: Iron deficiency, recent transfusion, chronic kidney disease and pregnancy all shift HbA1c.
Fasting glucose
High: 5.6–6.9 mmol/L = impaired fasting glucose; ≥7.0 mmol/L on two occasions = diabetes.
Low: <3.9 mmol/L is hypoglycaemia — check for medication effect, alcohol or adrenal cause.
Non-disease reasons: Acute stress, steroids, insufficient fasting and infection all raise fasting glucose transiently.
Total cholesterol / LDL
High: Raised LDL increases long-term cardiovascular risk but is interpreted alongside ApoB, Lp(a), blood pressure, HbA1c, family history and age.
Low: Very low LDL may reflect malnutrition, hyperthyroidism or chronic disease.
Non-disease reasons: Acute illness lowers cholesterol for weeks; pregnancy raises it physiologically.
Triglycerides
High: >1.7 mmol/L is raised; >5 mmol/L raises pancreatitis risk and needs prompt review.
Low: Very low triglycerides are usually benign.
Non-disease reasons: Non-fasting samples, alcohol, and a high-carbohydrate meal all raise triglycerides.
ALT / GGT (liver)
High: Persistently raised ALT and GGT suggest fatty liver, alcohol-related injury, medicine effect or viral hepatitis and warrant an ultrasound plus FIB-4 score.
Low: Low values are not clinically significant.
Non-disease reasons: A hard workout in the 48 hours before the test can raise ALT and AST without any liver disease.
Creatinine / eGFR
High: Raised creatinine with a low eGFR suggests reduced kidney filtration — but must be confirmed and paired with urine ACR before diagnosing chronic kidney disease.
Low: Low creatinine usually reflects low muscle mass and is not a problem.
Non-disease reasons: Dehydration, high protein meals, creatine supplements and intense exercise all raise creatinine transiently.
TSH
High: Raised TSH with low free T4 = primary hypothyroidism. Raised TSH with normal T4 = subclinical hypothyroidism — treatment is individualised.
Low: Suppressed TSH with high T4/T3 = hyperthyroidism; a low TSH with normal T4 may be subclinical or medicine-related.
Non-disease reasons: Biotin supplements, acute illness (sick euthyroid), pregnancy and time of day all shift TSH.
Ferritin
High: High ferritin can reflect iron overload but is also an acute-phase reactant — it rises with any infection, obesity, alcohol or fatty liver.
Low: Ferritin <30 µg/L (some labs <15) indicates iron deficiency, often before the haemoglobin drops.
Non-disease reasons: Recent infection or heavy training can double ferritin for several weeks without any iron overload.
Vitamin D (25-OH)
High: Very high vitamin D (usually from over-supplementation) can cause hypercalcaemia. Stop the supplement and recheck.
Low: <30 nmol/L = deficient; 30–50 = insufficient. Extremely common in Dubai despite the sun.
Non-disease reasons: Season, sun exposure, skin pigmentation and body mass index all affect vitamin D.
CRP / hs-CRP
High: CRP >10 mg/L suggests active infection or inflammation; hs-CRP 1–3 mg/L is a low-grade cardiovascular risk marker.
Low: Low CRP is reassuring.
Non-disease reasons: Any recent viral illness, dental infection or vigorous exercise raises CRP for 1–2 weeks.
PSA
High: Raised PSA is not a cancer diagnosis — benign prostate enlargement, prostatitis, recent ejaculation, cycling and a recent digital rectal exam all raise PSA.
Low: Low PSA is normal.
Non-disease reasons: Avoid ejaculation, vigorous cycling and rectal examination for 48 hours before testing.
Testosterone
High: High testosterone in men is unusual — investigate exogenous testosterone use or a testicular/adrenal cause.
Low: A single low reading is not enough — repeat morning testosterone (07:00–10:00) with SHBG, LH and prolactin before diagnosing hypogonadism.
Non-disease reasons: Poor sleep, acute illness, obesity, opioids and time of day all lower testosterone.
Full blood count
High: Raised platelets or white cells may reflect infection or inflammation; raised haemoglobin can reflect dehydration or smoking.
Low: Low haemoglobin, low white cells or low platelets warrant a blood film, iron studies, B12, folate and often a repeat.
Non-disease reasons: Dehydration concentrates the blood; a recent infection changes white cell counts for 1–2 weeks.
Important: This page is educational. It is not a diagnosis. Laboratory reference ranges vary, and results must be interpreted alongside your symptoms, examination, other tests and clinical history. If you have severe chest pain, breathlessness, stroke symptoms, severe bleeding or feel very unwell — do not wait for a blood result. Call 998 or go to an emergency department.
FAQs
Does one abnormal blood result mean I have the disease?+
No. Reference ranges are population-based, results vary between labs, and many results are transiently affected by illness, exercise, dehydration or medicine. Repeat testing and clinical context are almost always needed.
Why do reference ranges differ between labs in Dubai?+
Different laboratories use different analysers, reagents and reference populations. Always compare your result to the range printed on your own report, not a range you found online.
Should I stop my medicine if my result is abnormal?+
No — never stop prescribed medicine based on a website. The risk of stopping usually outweighs any small effect on the result. Speak to your GP first.
Can I have my results reviewed if the tests were done elsewhere?+
Yes — upload or WhatsApp your report and a British-trained GP at Aafiyah will review it with you in a paid consultation, in the clinic or by video.
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"Called at 8am with a fever, had a British-trained doctor at my door by 11. He sat with me for 45 minutes — not the 5 minutes I'm used to. Prescription delivered same day. Felt like having a proper GP again."
"We finally have one doctor who knows all of us. The kids actually like going. Follow-up calls happen without us chasing. Worth every dirham."
"The 40+ marker report came back with a real conversation, not a PDF dumped in my inbox. Caught a vitamin deficiency I'd been ignoring for years."
"After surgery I dreaded going back to a hospital for dressings. Their nurse came every other day, the doctor checked in by WhatsApp. Healed faster than I expected."
"Fell ill on day two of our trip. Doctor in the suite within 90 minutes, full assessment, prescription to the hotel pharmacy. Genuinely NHS-standard care in Dubai."
"My father refuses to leave the house. Aafiyah's team comes monthly, manages his medication, and treats him with such dignity. It changed everything for our family."
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